Why can’t the FFA come clean?
I have never met Alen Stajcic and not seen his contract with the FFA.
What is culture?
I have just been one of the bemused spectators reading about how the FFA terminated his contract to coach the Matildas because of “problems with the culture of the team.” What does this mean? In cricket, it apparently meant cheating, sledging and arrogance.
In women’s football, it could mean anything from sexual harassment to bullying to favouring or not favouring certain players or any other form of discrimination.
The problem is we don’t know! The FFA won’t tell us and apparently, Mr Stajcic claims he has no idea. David Gallop was given the unenviable task of fronting a press conference only to say that his contract had been terminated. When asked why, he said I can’t tell you. It wouldn’t be fair to the people involved.
What a shemozzle! Poor David hung out to dry and made to look stupid or devious.
I have read 1984 and cringed when the dictatorial state controlled the population and ordered them to do whatever it deemed fit. I thought we lived in a democracy where we have rules of governance and freedom of the press. This has all gone out of the window.
What is wrong is that sporting not-for-profit organisations seem to be behaving in a dictatorial way and breaching a contract blatantly by saying to Mr Stajcic, “We don’t want you anymore because of a cultural issue”. Please!
Mr Stajcic has a legal team now, but he is holding fire. Why? Is he trying to get the FFA to pay him out in full plus damages? He says his reputation is ruined. Although it is certainly questioned at this time, nothing has been alleged to ruin his fine CV.
The FFA complained that in the Steven Lowy era things got done in a non-democratic way. It is hard to believe that they would have handled this mess this way?
The solution
Be honest, tell us poor suckers what Alen did wrong and give him an opportunity to give his side of the story. I may agree with FFA or Alen, but now I am just fed up with being told nothing and told to accept it. No, I won’t!
The problem
The directors of any corporation have fiduciary duties to act honestly and in the best interest of the company. If they don’t, there may be a question of their liability. They should immediately resolve to disclosure the facts and circumstances that led to the current situation. If this means that an official has to take the heat instead of poor David, they should do so.
I have followed the Matildas for the last two years and have marvelled at one of our very best sporting teams. The FFA have decided just before the World Cup to uproot the team and introduce a new coach.
When has that ever worked? I am embarrassed and want the truth and fair play, otherwise, I want his legal team to press the “go” button and see them in court. It will serve them right.
Rod
Guest
This FFA is a totally cringeworthy self-servicing bunch of arseholes. They need to go. Sooner the better. Not only this malarky about Staj ( who if it wasn't for him, the girls would be nowhere )..but today they fine Ernie 3 grand for speaking the truth. Speaking the bloody truth !!!!!!!! I don't know about other people, but after years with the LNP's blatant lying , the FFA is starting to look like a direct offshoot of the party. Fining people to keep their mouths shut. FFA...you really are a lot of spineless bastards.
oldpsyco
Guest
The culture currently presided over at FFA is far worse han anything they could accuse Alen Stajic of! Whose watch is this under ???? Time to go.....
callumgasowski
Roar Rookie
FFA needs to step up
keith hurst
Roar Pro
Thank you Jordan
Stevo
Roar Rookie
So Gallop told the board he was going to sack Stajcic because he presided over a poor/toxic worksplace culture and the board said, sure David go ahead! Now the muttering is that there’s going to be a review to find out what happened and who is to blame for the poor PR! Did people not think of the consequences to follow? Astounding coming from supposedly ‘smart’ people.
coolncold
Roar Rookie
In two days, I change my idea again for the second time as I have read more. According to news.com.au (https://www.news.com.au/sport/football/alen-stajcic-addresses-the-media-after-shock-axing/news-story/12604a0fd200473a2c54587eb2f18e33), “Indeed Mr Stajcic, by his own admission and in the presence of an FFA lawyer and the FFA CEO David Gallop, said that the team environment was ‘dysfunctional’ and was ‘always going to be this way’. In those circumstances, we decided to act in time to put the team’s FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign back on track. It’s the Board’s duty to make these decisions." Keywords: FFA lawyer WoW... Why a meeting for a matter (the result of a survey) had to have the lawyer there? Yesterday, I did not read that a lawyer was there. It seems that the meeting was a setting up. I have never been a CEO nor a broad member of a big organization. However, I don't quite understand why a lawyer had to be ready. Unless, something was imminent. I think whatever the matter, there should be a number of meetings to try to find a solution. However, a lawyer was already there in the first meeting. This inference is based on Alen Stajcic's say that he had never heard of any bad comments from Gallop before. With the review of Alen Stajcic's sacking going on now, it is likely that Gallop will leave FFA nicely in the foreseeable future. It is because that one of the supporting reasons is that he is the remnant of the old FFA.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Congratulations on being upgraded to pro level Keith.
Ben
Roar Guru
I absolutely agree that the questions in an 'Our Watch' survey would likely be termed in this way. It truly blows my mind that the FFA would have an organization like this conduct a survey. As an employer, the FFA has a duty of care to it's employee's. It seems they've failed Alen Stajcic.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
I think Staj pretty much indicated that he wasn't up to the job after going through all this.
keith hurst
Roar Pro
The board in an attempt to cover their potential liability is going to blame its employees for this act. but the President was very prominent at the time. What will happen to him? You will see someone's head will roll but not the directors. But it is unlikely that Alen Stajcic will get his job back.He will have to be satisfied with a hefty payout from FFA. Keith Hurst
Brian
Roar Rookie
Maybe they are trying to make things as confusing as possible so people will get fed up with this whole disaster and forget about it. At the moment that is still not happening as the FFA yet again failed to read the situation properly.
Gordon Smith
Guest
Ben - survey questions can but asked in such a way as to illicit a result. The survey questions and the methodology of their analysis is critical in this case. I suggest someone demands to see them (no break in confidentiality) and have experienced social scientists comment on them. My experience of advocacy (our watch) survives is that 5ey are inherently biased and interpretation are also biased. A question such as “have you ever felt uncomfortable at your workplace” for example is vague enough for interpretations to be biased.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
I'm a little confused. I heard on Sky news TV last night that the FFA Board was doing an internal inquiry to determine exactly what happened. The report said that they were unhappy with how Gallop has handled this Stacjic matter and that he may lose his job, along with two others. But, wasn't it the FFA Board that decided to sack Stacjic? How can they blame Gallop? Is it his media appearance that failed them? It can't be his message because it's their message, isn't it?
JW
Guest
Gallop is CEO so you don't get to say "poor CEO hung out to dry!" He's head of the operations of the FFA - He's responsible for the execution of this mess as is FFA HR execs and all the incompetent board members that are part of this, particularly Reid. The whole organisation needs a total clean out - They are a disgrace to Australian culture and sports. The irony of Stajcic being fired for poor culture problems...... And as for the Outwatch organisation.....Not one elite sport rep on their board or management team no one with any clue on how to run an elite football team who were on the cusp of seriously challenging for a world cup. But hey lets mamby pamby to the #metoo #pc #wtf-is-next community because after all its not about winning the wc. No, its about everyone getting a participation award! I hope Stajcic takes the FFA to the cleaners.......and ultimately heads roll. Gallop is top of the list!
Ben
Roar Guru
"In women’s football, it could mean anything from sexual harassment to bullying to favouring or not favouring certain players or any other form of discrimination" Correct. And with a divisive organisation like 'Our Watch' doing player surveys of females that are coached by a male, almost any trivial gripe could be blown completely out of proportion. I'd seriously like to read the 'Our Watch' player survey (names blanked out of course) and their "recommendations"...